#DisclosuresTribunal should resume shortly
#DisclosuresTribunal Should be noted: yesterday afternoon, the tribunal heard excerpts of Supt Dave Taylor's protected disclosure in which he said: "I can confirm that a large number of interactions took place between myself, the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner O'Sullivan...
#DisclosuresTribunal "...by way of text message. My telephones have been seized and taken from me, are in the custody of An Garda Síochána.".."I understand from the course of my interviews under caution that the phone has been forensically examined and so these text messages.."
#DisclosuresTribunal ".. should be available on my device.".."I did not delete any text messages sent by me or received by me which involved the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner O'Sullivan."
#DisclosuresTribunal This protected disclosure related to time Supt Taylor was in Garda Press Office (May 2012 - June 2014). It was the evidence of Det Sgt Brian Hanley - who was at Balbriggan Garda Station in May 2015 when Supt Taylor was arrested - these assertions aren't true
#DisclosuresTribunal This is because, the tribunal heard, Taylor - in Sept 2014, gave his phone to Insp Liam Moroney who examined it and decided it wasn't fit for purpose. It heard Insp Moroney gave Taylor back his phone and Taylor retained it. This is one of the missing phones.
#DisclosuresTribunal Today's hearing has begun with Deirdre Mooney, who worked in Garda Press Office. (This is the list of witnesses for today) 
#DisclosuresTribunal Ms Mooney left GPO in August 2013. She says she never had any problems with Supt Dave Taylor and that he was a fine boss. She said she had no knowledge of any smear campaign against Sgt McCabe.
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Alan Frawley is now giving evidence. He's been working in Garda Press Office since June 2013.
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Frawley said he got on "very well" with Taylor. Marrinan SC, for tribunal, raises the protected disclosure of Supt Taylor. Asked if Taylor ever said anything to him about an alleged smear campaign, Sgt Frawley says no. (Frawley left GPO in Dec 2017)
#DisclosuresTribunal Mícheál Ó Higgins, for AGS, reads out section of statement Supt Taylor made to tribunal in which he stated AGS director of comms Andrew McLindon was aware of the alleged smear campaign as, Taylor claims, he discussed Callinan's instructions with him..
#DisclosuresTribunal O'Higgins asks Sgt Frawley if Andrew McLindon ever instructed him [Sgt Frawley] to negatively brief journalists about Sgt McCabe. Sgt Frawley says no.
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Frawley also says he doesn't know of any queries made to GPO in Feb/March 2014 by Eavan Murray, of Irish Sun, or Debbie McCann, of Mail, in regards to their (separate) visits to Ms D's house. [Should say neither of these journalists wrote about Ms D]
#DisclosuresTribunal Judge Peter Charleton asked Sgt Frawley extensively about layout of the GPO office and Garda Commissioner's office.
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Damien Hogan, who's been in Garda Press Office since 2009, is now giving evidence. Tribunal hears (like many witnesses yesterday) he also gave statement to Clerkin's investigation into alleged leaks and Taylor [file went to DPP but no charges brought]
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Hogan says when Taylor started in press office, he had embarked on a large project to refurbish the office
#DisclosuresTribunal in statement to Clerkin investigation, Sgt Hogan said atmosphere changed and his relationship with some people in office became "strained" and he took out vendettas against some people.
#DisclosuresTribunal Tribunal hears Sgt Hogan noticed that Supt Taylor had a lot of contact with Eavan Murray of the Irish Sun. He said most journalists who would call the office would speak to whomever answered the phone but EM would ask for Supt Taylor .
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Hogan said he started to have suspicions Taylor was sending info to EM as her articles had more detail than other papers. Sgt Hogan said they had more detail than he or other GPO staff would give out. As a consequence of this, he gave details to Clerkin
#DisclosuresTribunal hears Sgt Hogan had an "excellent working relationship" with director of comms Andrew McLindon. Asked about McLindon and Taylor's relationship, Sgt Hogan said it wasn't a friendly relationship at all.
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Hogan said he knew nothing of visits to Ms D house by journalists McCann and Murray. Asked if he had any inkling of an alleged smear campaign, he said: "absolutely not, never, it was never discussed..."
#DisclosuresTribunal Michael McDowell SC, for Sgt McCabe, raises Irish Independent journalist Paul William's prev evidence in which he said - in between interviewing Ms D and publishing his articles - he contacted Taylor to confirm McCabe had been subject of an investigation
#DisclosuresTribunal McDowell asks if it's normal for a press officer to confirm such detail [that there had been an investigation and that a file when to DPP, etc] given McCabe had been 'cleared', Sgt Hogan said it's not something he'd do. Says it would be "highly unusual"
#DisclosuresTribunal In response to questions from O'Higgins SC, for AGS, Hogan says in Aug/Sept 2014 he got a call from a female journalist (not named) about an incident in relation to a missing child. He wasn't working and told her to call the GPO but she said they were busy
#DisclosuresTribunal Hogan said the journalist then said to him "I'm getting enough now from Supt Taylor". As this was four months after he was removed from the GPO, Hogan rang Andrew McLIndon and Supt Paul Moran about the exchange
#DisclosuresTribunal Judge Peter Charleton has raised concerns about evidence against Supt Dave Taylor "passing unchallenged". He says "I have a wee bit of worry about that."
#DisclosuresTribunal Patrick Marrinan SC, for the tribunal, submits that if a party thinks there's a question about relevancy in relation to a witness's evidence, then that's the time the challenge/question should be raised/made.
#DisclosuresTribunal Charleton and Tara Burns BL, for Taylor, discuss the matter. Judge suggests Taylor should perhaps be physical at the tribunal. Burns says his legal team is in constant contact with Taylor.
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Anthony Connaughton, of Garda Press Office (since 2008) is now giving evidence. Says he never had a problem with Supt Dave Taylor. Asked if he recalls any requests for info re: Ms D from journalists McCann or Murray, he says no.
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt James Molloy, of Garda Press Office since 2000 (bar short period in HRM) is now giving evidence.
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Molloy says he was in no away aware of any alleged smear campaign against Sgt McCabe, as alleged by Supt Dave Taylor in his protected disclosure
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Molloy recalls incident in which Chrissie Fitzpatrick (also of GPO) got a call from Taylor. Sgt Molloy was concerned b/c he said he was aware of other people in office who got calls from Taylor (then in traffic). He said it made ppl feel uncomfortable
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Molloy claims Supt Taylor (when he was in press office) had a tendency to come back to office (from an incident or briefing) and tell all about what happened in the GPO. Sgt Molloy didn't think it was very professional
#DsclosuresTribunal Sgt Molloy is final witness from the Garda Press Office and he says Sgt McCabe WOULD somewhat be discussed. He can't put a date or time on it but suggests someone might say 'guess what Dave Taylor said?'
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Molloy said DT would be uncomplimentary about McCabe or any journalist who would write favourably of Sgt McCabe or any member of Oireachtas who spoke favourably of Sgt McCabe
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Molloy says he was vaguely aware of a rumour of sexual assault and Sgt McCabe and possibly that Sgt McCabe felt this shouldn't be on the PULSE system and that management wouldn't take it off PULSE [this wasn't true]
#DisclosuresTribunal Asked when he became aware of this, Molloy said he thinks it was either 2013 or very early 2014 but he can't be certain. Marrinan SC, for tribunal, asks if he felt Taylor held McCabe in low regard b/c of assault investigation or because he was speaking out..
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Molloy said he felt it was because Sgt McCabe was speaking out. Molloy asks about 'disgusting' remark at PAC by Callinan in Jan '14. Molloy said he believes Andrew McLindon and John Ferris were keen to get some kind of apology out as it didn't look good
#DisclosuresTribunal [NOTE: Tribunal previously heard that McLindon wrote a proposal to Callinan for him to do a pre-recorded interview with Sean O'Rourke as a means to 'move off' the disgusting remark. But Callinan rejected the proposal]
#DisclosuresTribunal In relation to Sgt Molloy saying McCabe was discussed, he repeats he can't recall specifically who said what to whom. Sgt Molloy also said it may NOT have been the case that whoever said whatever were repeating what Taylor said to them.
#DisclosuresTribunal But he said it was his "strong impression" that Taylor didn't think well of Sgt Maurice McCabe. Sgt Molloy adds there was no evidence this view was promoted by Martin Callinan or Noirin O'Sullivan. Said nobody ever said anything to him about a smear campaign
#DisclosuresTribunal Supt Patrick Ryan, of the Information Technology Centre in Garda HQ, is now giving evidence
#DisclosuresTribunal Supt Ryan tells that during time period July 2012 - May 2014 (when DT was in press office) former Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan would have logged onto three PCs.
#DisclosuresTribunal hears NOS would have been given 5 laptops since 2006 - one in 2006, 2007, 2009 and two in 2010. Tribunal hears none have been recovered.
#DisclosuresTribunal hears NOS was also given two iPads. One of these has been given to the tribunal
#DisclosuresTribunal hears Callinan would have logged onto one PC. He was given 6 laptops and one iPad. 4 of 6 laptops (issued in 2001, 2006, 2007, 2009) were not recorded as having been returned to the Information Tech Centre, one (also 2009) was returned but allocated elsewhere
#DisclosuresTribunal In relation to Callinan's 6th laptop (of 2011), Callinan bought the laptop on his retirement of An Garda Siochana (in 2014). Supt Ryan says this laptop would have gone through reimaging process and effectively a factory default before being given to Callinan
The other was damaged
#DisclosuresTribunal Donal McGuinness BL, for AGS, puts it to Supt Ryan re: NOS laptops - most of them were issued when she was Dep Comm, specific laptops are sometimes issued for specific projects and that they might be used by other members. Supt Ryan agrees with all that.
#DisclosuresTribunal Sgt Declan Monaghan now giving evidence.
#DisclosuresTribunal has finished hearing evidence for today. It will resume at 10.30am tmw. Tribunal has heard Supt David Taylor is expected to give evidence from Monday with former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan to start giving evidence from next Thursday.
